What We Learned at Workday Horizon 2025: Top 8 Takeaways for Asian Enterprises
- i-admin Singapore
- Aug 29
- 3 min read
Workday Horizon 2025 in Taipei brought together business, HR, finance, and technology leaders to explore how AI, people strategy, and enterprise agility are reshaping how organizations operate and grow. While the focus of the event was global, the insights shared hold particular relevance for companies across Asia navigating fast-paced digital and workforce transformation.
Here are the themes that stood out and why they matter for forward-looking enterprises in the region:
1. CHROs Are Taking the Lead on High-Value Transformation
HR is no longer just a back-office function. Horizon 2025’s CHRO leadership session underlined how HR leaders are stepping into more strategic roles driving culture, skills strategy, and talent outcomes that directly impact business performance.
2. AI Requires Strategy, Not Just Hype
The shift from concept to value was a recurring theme. IT leaders and business heads alike are navigating how to adopt AI responsibly with reskilling, governance, and integration challenges top of mind. Workday’s emphasis on agentic AI showed that success lies in planning, not just tools.
3. Empowering the Future Workforce Means Inclusion
A powerful takeaway: successful AI transformation doesn’t sideline people it elevates them. Sessions on AI and human inclusion strategies spotlighted how companies are adapting to support blended human-digital teams while keeping employee experience at the center.
4. Agility Begins with Adaptive Planning
In an unpredictable world, static planning doesn’t work. Workday Adaptive Planning was highlighted as a key enabler of real-time, cross-functional decision-making. Finance and HR teams across Asia are increasingly adopting scenario planning to stay ahead of market shifts.
5. Change Needs Champions, Not Just Checklists
Execution emerged as a challenge in many peer stories. Implementing change whether system, structural, or cultural demands more than intent. It requires ownership, clarity, and communication. The practical guide session reminded us that transformation is a leadership discipline.
6. AI-Enabled Finance and HR Are Taking Shape
Workday and Deloitte shared how intelligent finance and HR systems are now reshaping planning, payroll, and reporting. While many enterprises are early in the journey, the message is clear: AI-driven efficiency and insight are no longer futuristic they’re operational goals.
7. Global Innovation Must Meet Local Needs
ADP’s session reinforced a key point for multinationals in Asia: systems must scale globally while adapting to local compliance, languages, and labor laws. From payroll integration to talent frameworks, localisation isn’t an afterthought it’s essential. At i-Admin, we share this perspective. As Asia’s payroll leader, we understand the complexities of managing payroll across multiple regions and the importance of enabling global scalability while meeting local compliance requirements.
8. Technology Is an Enabler of Talent Transformation
Technology was framed not as the goal, but as a catalyst. IBM’s talent transformation session showed how digital tools are being used to support reskilling, enhance experiences, and prepare teams for what's next not just in HR, but across the enterprise.
Final Thoughts
Workday Horizon 2025 reinforced a clear message: the future is already taking shape, and successful organisations are leaning into transformation not waiting for it to happen. From AI integration to strategic HR, adaptive planning, peer-based learning, and locally relevant systems, the building blocks are already here.
If fragmented systems or siloed processes are holding your organisation back, i-Admin can help unify and localise your operations across Asia. It’s time to rethink how payroll and people operations can power your next phase of growth. We look forward to continuing these conversations at our upcoming event in Hsinchu.
Comments